Attachment mounting for a machine tool



Oct. 10, 1939. A. F. BENNETT 2,175,592.

ATTACHMENT MOUNTING FOR A MACHINE TOOL Filed March 17, 1936 8Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEYS.

Oct. 10, 1939. BENNETT 2,175,592

ATTACHMENT MOUNTING FOR A MACHINE TOOL Filed March 17, 1936 8Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

8 Sheets-Sheet 5 l w w INVENTOR. w /wh /Z BY I ATTORNEYS.

A. F. BENNETT Filed March 17, 1936 mm m Oct. 10, 1939.

ATTACHMENT MOUNTING FOR A MACHINE TOOL Oct. 10, 1939. A. F. B ENNETTATTACHMENT MOUNTING FOR A MACHINE TOOL Filed March 17, 1936 8Sheets-Sheet 6 l ll l l nili I ll A T T ORNE YS.

Oct. 10, 1939. A, F, BENNETT 2,175,592

ATTACHMENT MOUNTING FOR A MACHINE TOOL Filed March 17, 1956 I 8Sheets-Sheet 7 BY @941 V6212,

A TTORNEYS.

Oct. 10, 1939. A. F. BENNETT 2,175,592

ATTACHMENT MOUNTING FOR A MACHINE TOOL Filed March 17, 1956 8Sheets-Shet 8 IN V EN T 0R. c/f/a/ i. Bea/ref;

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Arthur F. Bennett,West Barrington, R. I., as-

signor to Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company, a corporation of RhodeIsland Application March 17 19 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine tool, and has for one of its objectsthe provision of an attachment which may be adjustably mounted on theside of the machine and there driven instead of clamping it onto theface of the machine in the usual manner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a construction bywhich this attachment may be stored back of the face of the machine andbe entirely out of the way with none of its operating parts exposed.

Another object of the invention is the arrangement of the attachment sothat it may be utilized or operated at the same time that the spindleand arbor of the machine are operated in the usual manner, whereby boththe attachment and the spindle may act on the work at the same time.

Another object of the invention is an arrangement whereby the attachmentmay be moved from the side of the machine to the position of one of theoverarms with a single driving arrangement which may be utilized for thedriving of the attachment in any one of the selected positions byshifting it from one position to another.

Another object of the invention is the drive of the attachment from thespindle and yet leave the spindle free at all times for doing additionalWork.

' Another object of the invention is the covering of the operatingmechanism of the attachment in its various positions of adjustment whileprotruding the minimum amount from the machine in these variouspositions and the trans- 35 ierring of such guard cover to differentpositions as the drive for the attachment is transferred to thedifferent positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very rigid mounting andsupport for the attachment irrespective of which position is selectedfor its operation.

Another object of the invention is the means for alignment of theattachment when it is positioned in any one of its three selectedpositions that the same may have a known relation to the work table.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and 50particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine tool with my improved attachmentmounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental view of the upper portion of the machine toolwith the attachment 1936, Serial No. 69,321

drawn forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the attachment mounted intheposition of one of the overarms;

Fig. 4 is a face view of the upper portion of the machine tool with theattachment in its side mounting position;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the aligning indicator;

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of the upper portion of the machine toolshowing the casing and the driving arrangement for the attachment whenin its side mounted position;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view on the line 'l-! of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 6, showing the rear endportion of the attachment and the telescoping portion which covers thesame;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through a part of the attachment showing theforward end thereof;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 10-40 of Fig. 9, showing thedrive through the swivel portion of the attachment;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view through the upper portion of the machinetool showing the spindle and the additional gear mounted thereon fromwhich the attachment derives its operating movement;

Fig. 12 is a rear view of the upper portion of the machine tool showingthe drive mechanism as swung from its position in Fig. 6 to a positionfor driving the attachment when substituted for the overarm most distantfrom its side mounting position;

Fig. 13 is a face view of the upper portion of the machine tool, showingthe attachment as mounted in the position of the overarm nearest itsside mounting position;

Fig. 14 is a section on the line l4l4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a section on the line [5-15 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a face view of a portion of the brace plate;

Fig. 17 is an edge view of the portion of the brace plate shown in Fig.16 looking in the direction of arrow A;

Fig. 18 is an elevational view of the cover part of the brace plate asshown separate from the main portion thereof;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view on the line i9--l9 of Fig. 18

Fig. 20 is a sectional View on the line 2020 of Fig. 16.

In the use of machine tools such as milling machines, usually anattachment is provided as a separate unit which is clamped over thespindle and is driven from the spindle, thus the usual arbor which isdriven from the spindle cannot be operated at the same time that theattachment is operated, and further, to utilize the attachment it mustbe separately clamped in posi tion; and in order to avoid thedisadvantages attendant to such arrangement, I have provided anattachment and mounting for the same on the side of the machine where itmay be operated in various positions of adjustment relative to the planeof the face of the machine; while at the same time utilizing the spindleso that both may be operated together, or the spindle may be operatedwithout operating the attachment; and I have so arranged this attachmentthat it may be withdrawn from its side mounting position to besubstituted for either one of the overarms and by shifting a drive unitthe same mechanism may be utilized for driving the attachment in any oneof the three positions; and the following is a more detailed descriptionof the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferredmeans by which these advantageous re sults may be accomplished:

With reference to thedrawings, the machine tool shown for the sake ofillustration as a milling macl iinecomprises a base 28 with an upwardlyextending standard H. A suitable vertically adjustable knee 22 isprovided with a reciprocating table 23. Vertical adjustment of the kneeis had through the hand wheel 24, and a lateral adjustment of the tableis had by means of a hand wheel 25,1111 in a known manner. The housedoperating mechanism of the machine is driven from some suitable sourceof power, such for instance as an electric motor 26 which throughtransmission gears drive the spindle 2'! in a usual and known manner. Apair of overarms 28' and 29 are provided which extend out beyond theface 3| to suspend the yoke 30 for supporting the arbor, not hereillustrated, which is driven from'the spindle 27.

The usual attachment for a machine of this character is a separate unitpositioned on the face of the machine over the spindle and driven fromthe working end thereof, after being clamped'in position; in accordancewith this invention, however, the attachment iq is mounted on the sideof the standard 2I where it may be stored back of the front face 3! ofthe machine, or it may be pulled forwardly axially of its drive shaftbeyond the front face, as shown in Fig. 2, and in any position ofadjustment driven from the spindle by' means at the back end thereofwhile leaving the forward working end of the spindle free to be utilizedin its ordinary accustomed manner so that the spindle may operate anarbor to act upon the work and the attachment may also be utilized atthe same time for operation upon the work, whereby two operations may beperformed simultaneously.

The attachment unit comprises a tubular housing comprising the portion4|, 4|, (Fig. 9), extending rearwardly from the working end thereofwhich is slidably mounted in a bracket 42 fixed to the side of thestandard 2! and at its end flush with the rear surface of the standard.This bracket 42 has a projecting portion 43, (Fig. 12), to fit within arecess 44 in the side of the standard 2i and there be located inposition while being secured to the standard by the bolts 45 passingthrough the lower portion of the bracket 52 and bolts 43 passing throughthe upper split portion of the bracket so that the bolt 4'6 serves tocontact the split 47 and reduce the circular opening .8 in the bracketand thereby tightly grip th tubular housing 4| and hold the attachmentin the desired axial adjusted position. This bracket is cut away in itsmiddle portion as at 45), (Fig. 9), leaving the bearing grippingportions 56 to grip the housing 6!. The housing A! is shouldered as at55 so as to limit its insertion into the bracket 42, this limit,however, being such that the attachment does not protrude beyond face3|.

The housing 4!, 4i receives a tubular member 52, (Fig. 9), whichprovides bearing supports for the auxiliary spindle 53 by means of itsbores of several different diameters. This tubular member is held infixed relation to the housing portion M by means of countersunk bolts 58extending through the housing and into the member 52, while the portionN is rotatable about the member 52 to adjust the attachment spindle andis clamped in desired position by the bolts I6? .and ififi (Figs, 2, 3and 9), contacting the split end ofthe portion 45 to cause it to gripthe member 52. Dne of said bearing portions is provided in elongatedbore 55 while another larger bore 5fi supports suitable roller bearings56 which in turn engage and support the attachment driveshaft 53 at alarger diameter thereof. The bore 5? betweenthese two diametersproviding clearanceat the forward extremity of the drive shaft; a ballbearing 55 is mounted in the housing A l to support a reduced portion,I60 of this shaft, which bearing is located in the bore Hit and held inplace bythe threaded member I 52 tightened by a spanner engagingopenings I63 and held in placeby a set screw I64... At the rearextremity of the drive shaft 53 the housing 4I provides an additionalsupporting bearing by means of a support member I02, (Fig. 8), having astud E63 extending therethrough and held in position by set screw it.This stud I03 supports roller bearinglcfi which in turn egages theinnersurface of the recess I96 in the end of the driveshaft. The rearend of the drive shaft 53 is provided with a long gear 60, (Fig 9), foradjustment of the shaft and this gear is driven from the spindle 2? byatrain of gears which is housed in a unitwhich is attached to the back ofthe standard of the machine and movable to different positions.

This unit consists of a generally cup-shaped housing or casing 65 whichhas its edges 64 (Fig. 9) about its open side abutting the rear surface53 of the standard and end 62 of the bracket 42. A projecting portion 66of the casing 65 (Fig. 7) is swivelly mounted in a recess fi'i in thebackwall 68 of the standard 2 I. This recess 6'! is concentric with theaxis of the spindle 2?. To provide, a drive for the attachment I add agear 69 upon the spindle 2?, the same being rotatable with the spindleand held in place by a nut to force the gear against the shoulder II onthe spindle. Also, this casing 65 carries a stud 77 which is threadedinto the casing at 14 to be supported thereby. This stud contacts withthe rear face of the standard while a bolt extends through this stud andinto a threaded hole 16 in the rear wall of the standard to hold thecasing in the position of adjustment to drive the attachment when at theside of the machine. On this stud is rotatably mounted the rollerbearing I8 which anti-frictionally supports the gears I9 and 8G torotate together as a single unit. Gear 8!) meshes with the gear 69 onthe spindle 21, while the gear I9 engages the gear 60 provided on theend of the attachment drive shaft so as to drive the same. As theattachment is drawn forwardly this long gear slides along and yet at allpositions maintains its driving connection with the gear 19.

When desired, the gear 86 may be withdrawn from mesh with the gear 69 sothat the drive shaft 53 may be optionally rendered inoperative. A fork8I has its arms extending along opposite sides of the gear 19, while ashaft 82 has an eccentric 83 engaging the fork so that as the shaft isswung by lever 84 and handle 85 from one position to another the shaftwill be rotated to shift the gear along the roller bearing to and frommesh with the gear 69 on the main spindle. The lever 84 is held in itsdifferent position by pin 86 slidably mounted in the handle to beoperated by an axial movement of the handle and is spring pressed intoone of the openings 81 and 88.

Extending rearwardly from this casing unit 55 are a plurality oftelescopic tubes 96, 9! and 92 (Fig. 8) which are limited in theirextensions by inwardly extending abutment flange 93 on the outer end oftube 90 to engage the outwardly extending abutment flange 93 on the tube91 at its inner end; while the inwardly extending abutment flange 95 onthe outer end of the tube 52 engages the outwardly extending abutmentflange 56 on the inner end of tube 92. The inner end of tube 96 fitsover a collar 91 to which it is bolted as at 68, while the plate 69which supports said collar is bolted by the three screws I66 to thecasing 65. A tension spring IEH tends at all times to collapse thesetubes, while the tubular housing 4| forces them into extended positionas the attachment is pushed to its stored position, as shown in Fig, 1.

The outermost telescopic tube 92 is provided with a closure cap III!while through this closure, and also through stud I63 an oil conduit 568extends. This conduit is filled through the elbow I69 to directlubricant into the hollow axis H6 of the elongated gear 66, from whichlocation it is distributed.

At the forward end of the attachment the housing 4I is reduced somewhatto provide a cylindrical surface II5 (Fig. 14) upon which a bracket foradditional support is mounted. This bracket is formed in two parts H6and I 25, as shown in Figs. 16 and 18, which parts are hinged together.The two parts of this bracket provide together openings H7, H8 and H9,in which the body part H6 wholly contains the opening Ill to fit on thesurface H5 on the housing 4! with a split I23 connecting these openingsI I1 and H8 for clamping purposes. The openings I I8 and I19 receive theoverarms 28 and 29 which project from the face of the machine. The coverportion 525 is swung about its hinge connection I'll to open positionfor the reception of these overarms. tachment housing by a bolt I22which draws the portions on either side of split I23 together tocontract the size of the opening II! and hold it tightly clamped on thehousing 4!. Apart I 26 is then swung about its hinge I2I to completelyembrace the overarms 28 and 29 and is clamped in this position by an eyebolt I24 hinged as at I25 in part H6 and extending through opening I25in part I20, while nut I2? urges the part I20 through Washer I28 tocause the bracket to tightly bind the overarms. This bracket serves theadditional useful purpose of aligning the attachment with reference tothe work table by The bracket is then clamped to the at-.

means of index markings I29, I30, I3! in conjunction with the endsurface I32 of the housing M which is also graduated so that it may beknown when a plane at right angles to the axis of the swivel of theattachment is perpendicular to the work table and inasmuch as thehousing 4| may be swung about its axis with reference to the bracket 42,other angular relations may be also as readily obtained, it, however,being desirable that the relation of the attachment to the work table beknown.

Upon the housing M a head I46 is swivelly mounted in a known manner andshown in Figs. 9 and 10. A sleeve I4I carrying a rack I42 is slidablymounted in this head and with which rack there meshes a pinion I 43which is rotatably mounted on a shaft I46 through bushing I41. Thispinion has an integral hub I44 at one end serving as a handle withspokes I45 extending therefrom for rotating the same about the shaft I46as an axis.

The sleeve I4I rotatably supports an attachment of auxiliary spindle I50by means of roller bearings I5I, I52 held in position by nuts I53; whilethe shaft at one end is provided with a spline I54 so that it may bedriven and yet slide with reference to the driving means in response tothe movement of the sleeve MI. This shaft I56 is driven from the driveshaft 53 through a train of bevel gears I55 on the shaft 56 meshing withthe bevel gear I56 rotatably about the stub I51 having its axis at thecenter of the swivel head I46. This gear I 56 in turn meshes with thebevel gear I58 which drives the shaft I55 and is connected thereto bymeans of the spline I54. These gears I56 and I58 are suitably mounted onanti friction bearings and are provided with means for lubrication, suchfor instance as by means of oil conduits shown through the supports forthe gears.

The attachment has thus far been described in its position at the sideof the machine; however, there are Various other mountings for theattachment in the machine.

The housing M is of the same external diameter as the overarms 28 and 29and the attachment with its housing may be completely drawn out of itsbracket 42 while either one of the overarms may be drawn completely outof its position and the attachment may be interchanged with either oneof the overarms. For illustrative purposes I have shown in Figs. 3 and12 the back of the machine with the attachment in the position of theoverarm most distant from the position of the attachment on the side ofthe machine, while in Fig. 13 is shown the attachment in the position ofthe overarm closest to the side position of the attachment.

When the attachment is in the position of one of the overarms the casing65, together with its operating mechanism contained therein, is swungabout the spindle as a center and the bolt F5 positioned in the tappedhole I6 in the back wall of the standard to hold the casing in theposition shown in Fig. 12, or the casing may be held in another positionof adjustment by bolt '55 in tapped hole I6 or 16'. The drive will thenbe as above described in connection with Fig. '7 from the gear 69through the gears 8E3, I6 to the gear 55 on the attachment drive shaft.Thus, the same driving arrangement is provided for the position of theattachment when located in the overarm position. The telescoping coverson the unit move with the casing unit to the new position at the timethe casing is swung.

As for the alignment of the attachment, this is readily accomplished byreason of the graduations on the surface I32 of the housing of theattachment and the indicating markings I29, I30 or [3! which are fixedon the plate I [6 with which they may be aligned. When the zeroindication markings are in alignment, Fig. 5, the plane of the swivelhead will be perpendicular to the work table, or when some otherindications register with a datum line known angular relations may beobtained.

When the attachment is in the position of the overarm 29 the overarm 28will be slid inwardly so as not to contact with the operating parts ofthe attachment, and thus when in this position the brace H6 will engagethe housing M at H5 and the overarm 29 now in the brace 42, as shown inFig. 3, leaving the space H3 unoccupied. When the attachment is in theposition of the overarm 28, as shown in Fig. 13, the overarm 28 may beplaced in the bracket 42 but must be pushed back to be out of the way ofthe working part of the attachment and will not be engaged by the braceH6 but rather only the overarm 29 and the attachment will be engaged andthe opening ill will be unoccupied.

In cases, however, where it is desirable to secure a more rugged supportof the attachment when in the position of Fig. 3 or 13, after theattachment has been clamped in the position of the overarm as at I andI66, Fig. 11, and angularly aligned by means of the graduations at 32against the vernier plate 36, Fig. l, I may securely clamp theattachment spindle in place by means of the usual clamps as it? and 568(Fig. 3) and then remove the brace plate HE and transfer it to theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 between the attachment and thestandard where it may receive the overarm in the side mounting bracketwhen drawn forwardly therefrom. For this purpose the brace may be openedup by removing portion H 2?) of the brace by removing nut i2! and afterthe overarms and attachment are in place the whole may be firmly clampedtogether.

In all of these positions the spindle is free to operate additionally tothe attachment The foregoing description is directed solely towards theconstruction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that Ireserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes towhich the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limitedonly by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a machine tool, a standard, a main spindle therein, an overarm,means for supporting from the overarm a part driven from the spindle, anattachment mounted on the side of the standard independent of theoverarm and having an attachment drive shaft out of axial alignment withthe main spindle, and means for driving the attachment drive shaft fromthe main spindle.

2. In a machine tool, a standard, a main spindle therein, an overarm,means for supporting from the overarm a part driven from the spindle, anattachment mounted on the side of the standard independent of theoverarm and having a drive shaft, means for slidingly mounting theattachment for movement axially of the drive shaft so as to extendforwardly over a work support, and means maintaining continual drivingengagement for driving the drive shaft from the main ,spindle.

3. In a machine tool, a standard, a main spindle therein, an overarm,means for supporting from the overarm a part driven from the spindle, anattachment mounted on the side of the standard independent of theoverarm and having a drive shaft out of axial alignment with the mainspindle, and means for driving the drive shaft from the main spindlewhile leaving the main spindle free to function in a normal manner.

4. In a machine tool, a standard, a main spindle therein, an overarm,means for support-ing from the overarm a part driven from the spindle,an attachment mounted on the side of the standard independent of theoverarm and having a drive shaft, means for slidingly mounting theattachment for movement axially of the drive shaft, and meansmaintaining continual driving engagement for driving the drive shaftfrom the main spindle at any of its positions of adjustment.

5. In a machine tool, a standard, a main spindle therein, a bracket onthe side of the standard having an opening therein, an attachment havinga housing slidably fitting within said bracket opening for axialadjustment with relation thereto and provided with a drive shaft, andmeans for driving the attachment drive shaft in different positions ofadjustment.

6. In a machine tool, a standard, a main spindle therein, a bracket onthe side of the standard having an opening therein, an attachment havinga housing slidably fitting within said bracket opening for axialadjustment with relation thereto and provided with a drive shaft, andmeans for driving the attachment drive shaft from the spindle at therear end thereof in different positions of adjustment.

7. In a machine tool, a standard having a front face, a main spindle insaid standard, an attachment slidably mounted at the side of saidstandard to extend outwardly over a work support when in use and movableto a position rearward with reference to the front face to be completelyback of the same for stored position, a drive shaft in said attachment,and means to drive the attachment drive shaft from the spindle in saidside position 8. In a machine tool, a standard, a pair of overarmsextending therefrom, an attachment slidably mounted parallel to the axisof one of the overarms, and a brace transversely engaging saidattachment and at least one of said overarms to lock the same together.

9. In a machine tool, a standard, a pair of overarms extendingtherefrom, an attachment slid-- ably mounted parallel to the axis of oneof the overarms, and a brace transversely engaging said attachment andat least one of said overarms at their free ends to lock the sametogether into firm relation.

10. In a machine tool, a standard, overarms extending therefrom, anattachment slidably mounted parallel to the axis of one of the overarms,a brace transversely engaging said attachment and at least one of saidoverarms to lock the same together, and cooperating means on said braceand attachment for indicating the position of the attachment withreference to a fixed part of the machine.

11. In a machine tool, astandard, overarms extending therefrom, anattachment slidably mounted parallel to the axis of one of the overarms,a brace engaging said attachment and at least one of said overarms tolock the same together, said brace having separable parts hingedtogether to open from embracing position, and

means to clamp said parts together to firmly clamp the parts embraced.

12. In a machine tool, a standard, overarms extending therefrom, anattachment slidably mounted parallel to the axis of one of the overarmsand interchangeable therewith, a plate having openings for transverselyembracing said attachment and at least one of said overarms, graduationsabout said openings and on said attachment for aligning said attachmentwith reference to a fixed part of the machine in any position of saidattachment.

13. In a machine tool, a standard having a front face, an attachmentslidably mounted at the side of said standard and movable to a positionforward or rearward with reference to the front face and having a driveshaft movable therewith and telescoping guards housing the rear end ofthe attachment drive shaft, and means for collapsing said guards as theattachment is drawn forward.

14. In a machine tool, a main spindle, an attachment having a driveshaft, means for positioning said attachment in a plurality of selectedpositions with said spindle and shaft out of axial alignment, and a unitcomprising a casing containing driving gears, said unit being shiftableto said different positions about the main spindle as a center to drivethe said shaft from the main spindle, and said unit having telescopingguards housing the end of the attachment and movable with the unit todifferent positions of adjustment.

15. In a machine tool, a standard having a plurality of openings, 21.main spindle in the standard, an attachment having a drive shaftpositionable in one of the plurality of selected openings with saidspindle and shaft out of axial alignment, and shiftable means fordriving said shaft from the main spindle in any of the selected positins.

16. In a machine tool, a standard having a plurality of openings, a mainspindle in said standard, an attachment having a drive shaftpositionable in one of the plurality of selected openings with saidspindle and shaft out of axial alignment, and a unit comprising a casingcontaining driving gears, said unit being shiftable to said differentpositions about the main spindle as a center to drive the shaft from themain spindle.

17 In a machine tool, a standard having a plurality of openings, a mainspindle in said standard, overarms in certain of said openings, anattachment having a housing in another of said openings, said housingand overarms being interchangeable in said openings, and means fordriving said attachment in any of said selected locations from the mainspindle.

18. In a machine tool, a standard having a plurality of openings, a mainspindle in said standard, overarms in said openings, a bracket at theside of the housing having an opening similar to the openings in saidstandard, an attachment having a cylindrical housing fitting in saidbracket opening, said housing and overarms being interchangeable, and aunit comprising a casing containing driving gears, said unit beingshiftable to said different positions about the main spindle as a centerto drive the attachment from the main spindle in any opening in which itmay be located, said unit being at the back of the standard.

19. In a machine tool, a standard, a main spindle therein, an attachmentmounted on the side of the standard and having a drive shaft out ofaxial alignment with the main spindle, a drive gear on the main spindle,and a driven gear meshing therewith for driving the shaft, and aselective mechanism to move the driven gear to and from mesh with thedrive gear.

ARTHUR F. BENNETT,

